Swimming device



M. SZAFKA.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8. 1920.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

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MICHAEL SZAFKA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

Application filed June 8, 1920. Serial No. 387,388.

To aZZ 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL SZAFKA, a citizen of Hungary, residing at Philade phia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Swimming Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in swimming devices, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly simple and effective device of this description which may be readily secured to the body of a person, and thereafter enable the wearer to propel himself through the water by the revolving of a crank handle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a sufficient amount of buoyancy in the form of cork filled bags or other life preservers for sufficiently sustaining the weight of th swimmer in the water to give him ample freedom for the operation of the propeller.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claim. v

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, may understand how to make and use the same, I will. describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which Fig. 1, shows my improved swimming device in elevation applied to the body of a swimmer.

Fig. 2, is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 3, is an elevation of a slightly modified form of my improvement.

Fig. 4, is a plan view of Fig. 3.

In carrying out my invention as embodied in Figs. 1 and 2, 1 represents the base of the device which may be of wood or metal and from this base project the arms 2 and 3, the arm 2 having a bracket 4 formed therewith in which the upper end of the propeller 5 is journalled, while the lower end of said shaft is journalled in the bearing 6 formed with the arm 3. To the lower end of this propeller shaft is secured a small propeller 7 of any suitable shape or design, while to the upper end of this shaft is secured a bevel pinion 8.

9 represents a bearing formed with the arm 2, and in this bearing is fitted a crank shaft 10 carrying the bevel gear 11 which latter meshes with the bevel pinion 8.

12 represent two cranks which are se cured to each end of the shaft 10 and these cranks carry the handles 13 for revolving the cranks, and when these cranks are revolved the bevel gear 11 will transmit motion to the propeller shaft 5' through the bevel pinion 8 thereby revolving the pro peller. 1

To the base 1 are secured the straps 14: which are adapted to secure the device to the body of the swimmer as shown in Fig. i

1 and also secured to this base are short adjustable straps 15 which are in turn secured to the floats 16, the latter being of elongated shape preferably consisting of cork contained within a suitable casing.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when a person has secured my im proved swimming device in proper position upon the body entering the water assuming substantially a horizontal position therein the floats will maintain the swimmer at the proper level when by grasping the handles and revolving the cranks the propeller will be revolved and the swimmer will be forced through the water after the manner of a power driven boat, it being obvious that the handles may be revolved in either directi on, and that the movement of the swimmer may be either forward or backward as desired. It is further to be noted that the weight of the arms 2 and 3 and the parts carried thereby will act as a weighted keel to a vessel and will maintain the body of the swimmer in the proper position in the water. 7

By adjusting the short straps 15 to vary the position of the floats relative to the base the depth which the body of the swimmer will assume inthe water will be varied.

In Figs. 3 and at I have shown a slight modification of my improvement in which the crank shaft 10 is journalled directly in the outer end of the arm 2, and this shaft carries a belt pulley 17 over which runs the belt 18, said belt also running over the two smaller pulleys 19 journalled upon the stud pins 20 projecting from the sliding block 21. The belt 18 also passes around the small pulley 22 secured upon the propeller shaft 5 so that the revolving of the crank shaft 10 will revolve the propeller through the medium of the belt 18.

A stop block 23 is adjustably secured upon the arm 3 and a coil spring 24 is interposed between this block and the sliding block 21 by which arrangement a take up is provided for the belt since should the belt slacken the pulleys 19 will be forced away from the pulley 22 by the spring 24 thus taking up this slack, or should the belt contract when in Water the pulley 19 will be forced toward the pulley 22 against the action of the spring 24., thus always keeping this belt sufficiently ti ht to properly drive the propeller.-

dily inrention is especially adapted for pleasure purposes and for life saving guards and the like, since it is quickly and readily to the body and may be used by inexperienced swimmers or persons who oould n t other ise swim, or'may be used by life guards 01" the like, and when so used would enable such guards to swim to great distaneeswith but little fatigue and without danger of drowning enabling one to render greatservioe insaving life and property.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown as these may be varied Within the limits of the appended claim without departin from the spirit of In invention.

Having thus fully describe my invention, what I claim as new and useful is In a swimming device, a base, arms projecting from said base, a crank shaft journalled in said arms, a crank shaft, a belt pulley secured upon said shaft, means for revolving said shaft, a sliding block mounted upon one of the arms, a stop block adjustably secured upon said arm, a coil spring interposed between the stop block and the sliding block, twopulleys ijournalled upon the sliding block,a propeller shaft journalled in the outer ends of the arms, a pulley secured upon said propeller shaft, an andless belt running over all at pulle propeller secured to the prope er y In testimony whereof, I have hereunto atfixed my signature.

MICHAEL SZAFKA. 

